In the US, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This has led to an unofficial declaration fo October 13 as National No Bra Day. It aims to promote breast cancer awareness and encourage women to take charge of their breast health through regular screenings and self-examinations, according to National Day Calander.

While the day's name suggests going braless, its primary focus is on raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Many breast cancer survivors require prostheses after surgery, making bras a necessity. The observance emphasizes that most types of breast cancer can be effectively treated if caught early.

Today is October 13, and it's Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Kind
support people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer.

Educate people about breast cancer risk factors and encourage women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at… pic.twitter.com/NtfEf1xEhu

— Ojonimi S. Apeh Esq (@Apehbrisk) October 13, 2024

Health experts recommend a multi-pronged approach to breast cancer detection. "The first line of defense is a monthly self-breast exam," said Dr. Jane Smith, a leading oncologist. "Women should familiarize themselves with the shape and texture of their breasts to notice any changes."

For those who menstruate, the best time for a self-exam is approximately ten days after the start of their menstrual cycle. Women who don't menstruate are advised to choose a consistent day each month for the exam.

Annual appointments with a physician should include a breast exam, and women are encouraged to discuss any changes or concerns with their doctor. If any signs are detected, further tests such as sonograms or mammograms may be ordered.

Preventative mammograms remain a crucial tool in breast cancer detection. "Today's mammograms offer more vivid detail of breast tissue," explained Dr. Smith. "We recommend baseline mammograms around age 35 unless family history indicates an earlier start and yearly preventative mammograms for women 40 and over."

Today is secondary (metastatic) breast cancer awareness day. With only 1 in 3 people actually knowing what secondary breast cancer is, we think it needs to be understood & talked about more.

We're here to give hope to everyone affected by this disease: https://t.co/0B0kLaGdlY pic.twitter.com/so6ieLxcdh

— Make 2nds Count (@Make2ndsCount) October 13, 2024

 National No Bra Day organizers suggest various ways to participate, including scheduling mammogram appointments, sharing personal experiences to demystify the exam process, and organizing fundraisers to support those without health coverage or to fund breast cancer research.

National Day Calendar encourages participants to use #NoBraDay or #NationalNoBraDay when posting about the observance on social media.

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Many months into the Gaza war, a staggering 68% of Israeli women report a decline in their mental state, with many citing new or exacerbated medical issues. These findings emerge from a survey conducted by the Briah Foundation for women's health advancement, encompassing both women evacuated from their homes and those who were not.

The survey, carried out in May-June, approximately eight months after the outbreak of the war, revealed that 30% of evacuated women require psychological assistance. Among the evacuees, 17% reported a deterioration in their physical condition, compared to 11% of non-evacuees. Regarding mental health, 37% of evacuees reported a worsening state, versus 19% of non-evacuees.

An initial survey conducted a month after the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre showed that evacuees from the south reported higher rates of deterioration compared to those from the north. However, eight months into the war, evacuees from both regions reported similar levels of decline. Some 35% of evacuees and 22% of all women surveyed reported health issues that either worsened or appeared for the first time since the onslaught.

Of the problems that worsened or emerged, 22% were psychological, 22% were hormonal and metabolic changes, primarily related to menstrual cycles, and 17% reported musculoskeletal pain. Additional issues women reported as new or worsening included headaches, skin problems, and sleep disturbances.

Further findings showed an increase in medication use, including sleep aids (a 132% jump among evacuees, compared to 58% among non-evacuees), antidepressants and anxiety medications (61% vs 26%), and sedatives (42% vs 34%).

Family commitments

The survey indicates that women during wartime tend to neglect their own health issues and preventive check-ups. Women forewent essential examinations such as dental treatments (59% of evacuees, 40% of non-evacuees), breast examinations or mammograms (48% of evacuees, 38% of non-evacuees), and more.

What reasons made it difficult for women to maintain their health? 56% stated they had no time to deal with their health matters, and 38% said family commitments left them no time. Additional reasons included unfamiliarity with doctors in their new environment (56%) and lack of orientation in the area to which they were evacuated (38%).

The survey included 1,059 adult women, 50% of whom were evacuees from the south and north. The findings were presented at the Association of Public Health Physicians conference. The researchers concluded, "The state of war and evacuation from home have a significant and ongoing impact on the mental and physical health of women in Israel. The impact is more severe for women who were evacuated from their homes. There is a need for special attention to the needs of women and special populations."

Dr. Galit Neufeld Kroszynski from Tel Aviv University and the Briah Foundation, who conducted the research with her colleagues Nehama HaCohen and Nehora Alterman, explained the choice to study women's health, "From the literature, we know that women take on the responsibility for the health of children and partners, and they often remain behind in everything related to their own health.

"During the war, several studies were published that did not address the gender element, and we wanted to examine what was happening with women. Originally we planned to survey only evacuated women, but we realized that the implications are for the entire female population, and as time passes – the damage becomes greater.

"We also saw a certain increase in the lack of examinations with worsening conditions among evacuated women. We especially identified a decrease among mothers of young children, under 12. The interesting thing we discovered was that when women were evacuated to large cities with a wider range of medical services, some experienced improved access to examinations, appointments, and specialist doctors. There was a big gap between those evacuated to the Dead Sea compared to those evacuated to Tel Aviv," Neufeld Kroszynski said.

Migraines, stress, and difficulty sleeping

One of the survey respondents reported that she was evacuated with her elderly parents and had to care for them and her children, so she did not have time to deal with her own health issues. Another evacuee, who has a chronic illness and took medication by infusion, said that in the kibbutz she would regularly receive the medications, and now she has to obtain them herself.

Another evacuee described that in Eilat, they were referred between clinics and it was unclear who was treating them, until one of the doctors took care of them. Other women reported changes in their menstrual cycle, headaches and migraines, high stress and difficulty sleeping, back pain due to crowding and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, repeated viral infections during their stay at the hotel, and more.

According to Neufeld Kroszynski, "We must start paying attention to what is happening to women and prepare a long-term health rehabilitation plan for them. See which tests they didn't perform, what new problems arose, and make it possible for them to get early appointments. There should be a proactive approach from the system to women, before the situation becomes more severe. Even when the evacuees start returning home, it's important that there be follow-up."

Dr. Sapir Bitton, a psychiatry resident at Soroka Hospital and research partner, lives in Kibbutz Erez and was also evacuated from her home.

"All the weeks at the beginning of the war were turbulent," she said. "There were casualties from my immediate surroundings and our community was evacuated to Mitzpe Ramon. I had to manage the house and the evacuation and two small children and a partner who was in the standby unit. The research data didn't surprise me, because I feel it myself. I didn't do tests either. The need to create tailored responses for women and trauma-informed care – this is one of my life missions right now. I'm working to promote and improve the health of evacuated women. Improvement and creating responses now will prevent much morbidity in the future. I feel that we are facing a tsunami, and if we don't manage to provide the response now – it will be in all areas."

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A groundbreaking study led by a UC Berkeley researcher has uncovered the presence of toxic metals, including lead and arsenic, in tampons from several popular brands. The findings, reported by Berkeley University, highlight potential health risks for the millions of individuals who use these products monthly.

Jenni A. Shearston, a postdoctoral scholar at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health and Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, spearheaded the research. "Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons," Shearston told Berkeley University. "To our knowledge, this is the first paper to measure metals in tampons. Concerningly, we found concentrations of all metals we tested for, including toxic metals like arsenic and lead."

The study, which evaluated 30 tampons from 14 different brands, tested for 16 metals, including arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Researchers found that 50-80% of women use tampons, often for several hours at a time. The vaginal tissue's heightened ability to absorb chemicals compared to other areas amplifies the potential for exposure.

Kathrin Schilling, assistant professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and co-author of the study, emphasized the implications of these findings. "Although toxic metals are ubiquitous and we are exposed to low levels at any given time, our study clearly shows that metals are also present in menstrual products, and that women might be at higher risk for exposure using these products," Schilling explained to Berkeley University.

The health risks associated with metal exposure are significant. According to the study, these toxic substances can increase the risk of dementia, infertility, diabetes, and cancer. They may also cause damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain, as well as affect the cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems. Moreover, metals can potentially harm maternal health and fetal development.

Interestingly, the research revealed variations in metal concentrations based on factors such as purchase location (US vs. EU/UK), organic vs. non-organic status, and store-brand vs. name-brand products. However, no single category consistently showed lower concentrations across all or most metals. Lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons, while arsenic levels were elevated in organic ones.

The study suggests multiple potential sources for metal contamination in tampons. These include absorption from water, air, or soil during cotton growth, proximity to contaminants like lead smelters, or intentional addition during manufacturing processes such as pigmentation or antibacterial treatment.

Shearston advocates for increased manufacturer responsibility and consumer awareness. "I really hope that manufacturers are required to test their products for metals, especially for toxic metals," she stated. "It would be exciting to see the public call for this, or to ask for better labeling on tampons and other menstrual products."

While the immediate health implications of these findings remain unclear, the researchers plan to conduct further studies. Future research will focus on determining the extent to which these metals can leach out of tampons and be absorbed by the body, as well as investigating the presence of other chemicals in menstrual products.

As this groundbreaking study sheds light on a previously unexplored area of concern, it underscores the need for continued research and potential regulatory action in the realm of menstrual product safety.

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A large-scale study that tracked over 25,000 women for more than two decades has uncovered compelling evidence linking the Mediterranean diet to increased longevity, according to researchers. The findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, suggest that women who closely adhered to this dietary pattern experienced a significant reduction in the risk of mortality, including from leading causes such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

"For women interested in longevity, our study shows that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern could result in about one-quarter reduction in risk of death over more than 25 years with benefit for both cancer and cardiovascular mortality, the top causes of death," stated Dr. Samia Mora, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, in an email.

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes a plant-based approach to eating, with a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, and a liberal use of extra-virgin olive oil. Red meat is consumed sparingly, while oily fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged. Eggs, dairy, and poultry are allowed in moderation, contrasting with the typical Western diet.

"In this study, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was a proxy for diet quality. Those who adhered most closely were eating more legumes, more vegetables, more fruits, less meat, and less processed meats," explained Dr. David Katz, a specialist in preventive and lifestyle medicine and founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, who was not involved in the research.

While the study was observational and could not establish a direct causal link, Katz expressed confidence in the findings, stating, "We may be comfortable inferring that a high-quality diet did, indeed, cause a lower risk of death."

The study, led by Shafqat Ahmad, an associate professor of molecular epidemiology at Uppsala University in Sweden, revealed a graded association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and reduced mortality risk. "Each increase in adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 6% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 5% reduced risk of dying from either heart disease or cancer," Ahmad said in an email.

The researchers emphasized the importance of studying the diet's specific effects on women, as previous data has often overlooked gender-specific nuances. By closely following the Mediterranean dietary pattern, the study found that women could reduce their risk of early death by 23%, their risk of dying from cancer by 17%, and their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 20%.

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